On Thursday, Citizens Bank of Rogersville President Brian VanFossen presented the Logan-Rogersville Care to Learn chapter with a donation of $5,000, funded by the LR Spirit debit card program. When the LR Spirit card is used for a credit transaction, a rebate is sent to the bank. The net proceeds from this rebate are then donated to the LR Care to Learn chapter. This is the second year of the program, and Citizen’s Bank was able to more than double the contribution to Care to Learn over the inaugural year.

“The staff of CBR have stepped up in several ways to show support for Care to Learn. They were one of the top sponsors for the recent Care to Learn Ride to Provide. They even volunteered as the cheering committee and cleanup crew at the end of the ride! We are fortunate to have them in our community,” said Harrell.

Care to Learn was founded by Doug Pitt in 2008 to meet health, hunger and hygiene needs so every child can be successful in school. Donations made to the Logan-Rogersville Care to Learn Chapter go to support the Pawpak Program, which ensures kids have food to eat on the weekend. Every Friday, volunteers fill backpacks with food to be sent home with students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

September is Hunger Action Month

Check out these upcoming events to benefit Ozarks Food Harvest:

•Tea Bar & Bites’ Apron Fashion Show and Silent Auction is Wednesday, with proceeds from auction items benefiting the food bank. Tickets will be pre-sold at 621 S. Pickwick Ave. for this entertaining night that includes art, food, drink, live music and an enjoyable atmosphere. The ticket price is $25, or $20 when an apron is donated. Apron donations can be made by completing a donation form and sending to Nicole at Tea Bar & Bites Bakery and Cafe by Sept. 14.

•Iron Chef of the Ozarks is Sept. 19 at Farmers Market of the Ozarks. Attendees can taste samples from local chefs and vote with a donation to benefit the food bank. Hunger Action Month T-shirts will be on sale for $10.

•Panera Bread’s Empty Bowls event will raise awareness of hunger issues while supporting the food bank on Sept. 25 at Panera, 2924 E. Sunshine St., from 5-8 p.m. More than 200 handcrafted bowls have been donated by nearly 40 local artists, and can be purchased with cash donations to OFH. The first 150 donors will receive soup and a baguette courtesy of Panera.

To submit an idea for People are Awesome! email Webeditor@news-leader.com; call Katelyn Rickman at 417-836-1112 with questions.